Directions: Read the following passages carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words (not exceeding 10 words).
Personality is to a large extent inherent—a type parents usually bring about a type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is important to the parents, it is likely to become a major fact or in the lives of their children.
One place where children soak up A characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. Too many schools adopt the win at all costs moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements. The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A types seem in some way better than their B type fellows. Being too keen to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, dropped dead seconds after saying: “Rejoice, we conquer!”
By far the worst form of competition in schools is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. It is a rare school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful.
Obviously, it is neither practical nor desirable that all A youngsters change into B’s. The world needs types, and schools have an important duty to try to fit a child’s personality to his possible future employment. It is top management.
If the preoccupation of schools with academic work was lessened, more time might be spent teaching children surer values. Perhaps selection for the caring professions, especially medicine, could be made less by good grades in chemistry and more by such considerations as sensitivity and sympathy. It is surely a mistake to choose our doctors exclusively from A type stock. B’s are important and should be encouraged.
Questions:
1. Beside inherence, personality is also deeply effected by ______________________.
2. Person who has A characteristics is ______________________________________.
3. What was disagreed to in schools by the author? ______________________________.
4. Why is top management of school to fit a child’s personality_____________________.
5. According to the 5th Para., B’s characteristic is suggested to be ________________.
短文大意
這篇文章主要談論的是人的性格的培養(yǎng)。作者指出,個性雖然在很大程度上是與生俱來的,但環(huán)境的作用也很重要。作者指出,因為學校崇尚“不惜一切代價取勝”的道德標準,而使學校成為培養(yǎng)A型性格的主要場所。作者批評了這種以考試作競爭的手段,因為這并不是學校的最高的辦學宗旨。